F2K Ep. 28: Painter Skirmantas Pipas

Fun 2 Know Podcast

Today show, an epic conversation with artist and painter Skirmantas Pipas. Skirmantas Pipas is a Lithuanian-American artist in the process of painting fantastic otherworldly landscapes that serve as History Paintings of a world yet uncharted. I first met Skirmantas (aka "Skip") when he briefly worked at a Philadelphia cafe in my neighborhood, a lovely spot called The Chapterhouse, where Skip revealed himself as an unusually thoughtful and perceptive 29 year-old. Only after getting to know him better did he share his story as a 21st century American Immigrant relocating from Lithuania to Philadelphia in the years after the Soviet Union's collapse. Living under the Soviet system and the West, has given Skip a rich perspective on our country and our moment in time. Over our expansive conversation Skip discusses arriving in the U.S. as a non-English speaker, navigating the city's somewhat insufficient English as a Second Language program, attending art school, we discuss modern Lithuania, ROBOCOP, Iphones, I-Pads, Gaming and the internet, and the interests and concerns that Skip is working into his paintings. There is an eloquence to Skip's insights that I found particularly intriguing as I pieced together this episode, I think you'll enjoy the ideas he brings to this week's show. The F2K studios went mobile to the back room of Skip's West Philly apartment, and you will a steady array of passing sounds in the background, circular saws, car alarms, sirens, crashes from the other room that I'm embracing as a certain aural scenery of the bustling neighborhood of West Philly.